sonic screwdriver n.
in the British television series Doctor Who: a (hand-held) electronic device which uses sound waves to perform various mechanical and technical functions
Wikipedia
Doctor Who
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1968 in V. Pemberton Doctor Who: Fury from Deep (transcript of TV programme) 16 Mar.
‘Will it not budge?’ ‘No… Oh well—have to use this… It’s a sonic screwdriver. Never fails. There we are—neat, isn’t it? All done by sound waves.’
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1974
Terrance Dicks
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He went through the pockets of his old clothes. ‘Sonic screwdriver, TARDIS detector…Yes, it all seems to be there.’ Quickly the Doctor transferred his possessions into his new pockets.
Doctor Who & the Auton Invasion vi. 63 -
1989
Doug Naylor
bibliography
He took a sonic screwdriver from his top pocket, flipped a series of release catches on his neck, removed his head and plonked it down unceremoniously on to the table.
Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers xviii. 155 -
2005
Steven Moffat
Jack Who has a sonic screwdriver? The Doctor I do!
Doctor Dances in Doctor Who: Shooting Scripts (TV script) x. 364 -
2010
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Una McCormack
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The Doctor picked up the ring. He held it up to the light…and then he tested it with the sonic screwdriver. ‘Definitely the same material.’
King’s Dragon (Doctor Who) (2011) 81 -
2013
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You learn about travel and respecting other cultures while the Doctor shows you the wonders of the universe and you’re meant to discover, while still in school, that wit and a sonic screwdriver are better tools than guns.
in SFX (#241) Dec. 7
Research requirements
antedating 1968
Last modified 2023-07-19 17:56:59
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